Bodkin



(no Model.) E." A. WILLARD.

BODKIN.

No. 471.926. Patented Mar. 29, 1892.

STATES P TENT OFFICE.

BOD

KIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,926, dated March 29, 1892.

Application filed October 13, 1891. Serial No. 408,604. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMMA A. WILLARD, a citizen of the'United States, residing at Greenwich, in the-county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bodkins, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a new and improved bodkin of that type having at one extremity a pair of jaws for gripping acord, tape, or ribbon which is to be inserted, laced, or similarly applied to fancywork or other articles.

To accomplish this object my invention involves the features of construction and the combination or arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of the improved bodkin applied to a ribbon. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the bodkin, showing its jaws released. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing the several parts separated for more clearly exhibiting their construction. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central sectional view of the improved bodkin, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a variation in the shape or form of the bodkin.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein- The numerals 1 and 2 indicate two flat elastic plates, which are superimposed and rigidly united parallel to each other along a portion of their length at the penetrating end of the bodkin through the medium of rivets 3 or similar devices. The remaining portions of the two plates constitute a pair of spring-jaws, which by their inherent elasticity spring apart to their open position for releasing the ribbon 4 or other article such as a cord or tapewhich is to be inserted, laced, or similarly applied to fancywork or other articles. The extremities of the jaws are turned laterally to form flanges 5, which are preferably toothed or serrated to afford a more secure gripping action, so

that when the cord, tape, or ribbon is introgripped, and the bodkin can then be employed for the purpose of lacing or otherwise inserting the same. The two plates are provided with longitudinal coincident slots 6, through which extend the studs or pins 7, which are formed with or attached to the opposite sides of a filling-block 8,adapted to move along the slots 6 and be guided by the parallel edges thereof. The extremities of the studs or pins 7 are riveted or otherwise secured to a pair of flattened plates or finger-pieces 9, which rest upon the outer surfaces of the elastic jaws and are of a width somewhat in excess of the longitudinal slots for the purpose of providing a slide which is susceptible of longitudinal movement in such manner as to release the jaws or to close them upon the cord, tape, or ribbon.

The plates comprising the bodkin are so constructed as to gradually converge to a blunt penetrating extremity 10, and these plates are made of such thin and elastic material as to afford little or no obstruction to the convenient use of the instrument for leading a cord, tape, or ribbon through a hem or through fancy-work or other articles. In Fig. 5 the construction of the bodkin is the same as hereinbefore described, with the exception that it is varied in shape for the purpose of producing an instrument of less width than that exhibited by the other figures of the drawings.

My invention provides a bodkin which is efficient, desirable, easily manipulated for gripping and releasing a cord, tape, or ribbon, and is of such simple construction as to render it susceptible of being economically manufactured and placed on the market at a comparatively low figure, in which respects it is superior to that type of bodkin or lacing-needle having telescopic elastic jaws which require a locking device to retain them retracted in the body of the bodkin or needle for the purpose of gripping the cord or other object which is to be laced orinserted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is V g 1. As an improved article of manufacture, a bodkin consisting of two independent flattened plates formed with longitudinal slots and superimposed along one end portion, rivets passing through the superimposed portions of the plates and rigidly uniting them together to form the penetrating end of the bodkin and provide two elastic jaws which by their inherent elasticity spring apart and are each provided at the free extremity with a laterally-projecting gripping-flange, and a pair of flattened finger-plates rigidly connected through the slotted portion of the plates and between which the elastic jaws are permanently confined in all movements of the flattened finger-plates, substantially as described.

2. A bodkin consisting of a pair of flat longitudinally-slotted elastic plates rigidly united along a portion of their length at the penetrating end of the bodkin and formed into two elastic jaws for the remaining portion,

which by their inherent elasticity spring apart and are each provided at its free extremity with a laterall y-proj ectin g gripping-flan ge, an oblong filling-block arranged in the slotted portions of the plates, and a pair of flattened finger-plates rigidly secured to the opposite sides of the filling-block and between which the jaws are permanently confined in all movements of the finger-plates, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal in presence of:

two subscribing witnesses.

EMMA A. WILLARD. Witnesses:

GEO. G. MCNALL, FRED A. HUBBARD. 

